The Malaysian Insight

THE last time Mohamad Thaqif Amin Mohd Gaddafi’s family saw him happy and smiling was when he tested a new microphone his grandfather had bought for the local surau in Felda Bukit Aping Timur in Kota Tinggi, Johor.

That was 40 days after the 11-year-old had enrolled into Madrasah Tahfiz Al-Jauhar, his father Mohd Gaddafi Mat Karim, 43, said.

“He tested the mic by reciting a surah (chapter in the Quran). He was truly happy. Our family were happy.

“I was proud that he could recite the verses so well. That kind of happiness… money can’t buy,” the grieving father said, as he showed the video he took of Thaqif reciting the surah.

No one in the family knew that it was the last time they would be so happy with Thaqif.

“I can’t watch the video now. I just can’t, not when I think of what had happened to my boy,” Gaddafi told The Malaysian Insight at his home in Felda Bukit Aping Timur yesterday.

Thaqif, who started at the madrasah in late January, had to be removed from school on March 31 after he complained of frequent beatings.

He was allegedly abused and tortured by the assistant school warden, who had whipped him with a water hose until the legs were black and blue.

Thaqif’s legs became infected and after it spread to the kidneys and shoulder, they had to be amputated to save him life earlier this week.

The right arm was scheduled to be amputated, too, on Wednesday morning but the surgery had to be postponed because of a weak heart. Thaqif died that afternoon.

Gaddafi said the hardest thing for him and his wife Felda Wani Ahmad, 40, was to accept their son’s death.

He said Thaqif, the third of five children between the ages of three months and 19, was his mother’s boy.

“The first 40 days they were apart, after Thaqif first went to the madrasah, must had been a test for my wife. They were very close. She teaches at a national school, but this boy insisted on going to a madrasah. Before this, he studied in a religious school.”

Before he was accepted, Thaqif had to prepare for the entrance exam. Gaddafi remembered his son was very excited about it and worked hard, memorising Quranic verses and the Hadith with the help of his grandfather, Ahmad Motai, 66.

“My son died with his grandfather beside him.”

Since the tragedy, Felda has refused to speak to the media after someone spread the false news that Thaqif was suffering from a disease and that his family had sought traditional treatment before taking him to the hospital.

The former Selangor footballer said the family did not want to take any action unless things went too far.

“Let them be. It is between them and God,” he said.

“We have all been grieving daily since Thaqif was admitted into hospital,” Gaddafi said, adding that advice, kind words and moral support from family, friends and well-wishers helped them stay strong.

Gaddafi said the family and the madrasah, including its headmaster, had a good relationship, and they did not blame the madrasah when the culprit was an individual.

“We will just wait for the investigations to finish. We can’t blame anyone, but hopefully this incident will be a lesson to certain parties.”

The headmaster of the madrasah, Mohammad Afdhaluddin Ismail, in Kota Tinggi, said classes had been going on as usual despite the tragedy.

“The incident was shocking but parents have been understanding. They know the real situation,” he said, as he showed The Malaysian Insight around the school, which has 109 pupils and six teachers.

The madrasah has a meeting room, office, dormitory, classrooms, canteen serving four meals a day, washing machines, playground and gym.

Afdhaluddin said they also have 24 closed-circuit television cameras (CCTV) inside and outside the dormitory, installed last year.

He insisted that the madrasah was registered and monitored by the Johor religious affairs department. He also said the school would provide the authorities all the details on the incident.

“Life is full of trials. We have to face them and not simply let go of our responsibilities. I hope the public will not lump all madrasah together over this incident.” – April 28, 2017.